JAKARTA – A leading halal education institution has emphasized the importance of adopting the Authentic Halal Brand concept as a sustainable business strategy for companies in an era where consumers are increasingly values-conscious.

The Indonesia Halal Training & Education Center (IHATEC) delivered this message during a seminar session at the Top Halal Awards 2025, featuring Dr. Wahyu T. Setyobudi, founder of Inspark Indonesia and the originator of the Authentic Halal Brand concept.

Beyond Certificates: Living Halal Values

Dr. Wahyu explained that an Authentic Halal Brand transcends mere labels or certifications. Instead, it represents a company’s commitment to making Islamic values the foundation of its ethics and business strategy. According to him, two brands from ParagonCorp—Wardah and Kahf—serve as concrete examples of how to implement halal principles comprehensively and consistently.

“Wardah and Kahf are pioneers of Authentic Halal Brand in Indonesia. They don’t stop at administrative compliance but bring to life values of honesty, goodness, and sustainability across every business line. This is the true meaning of halal—not just halal certified, but halal lived,” he stated in a written statement released Friday, October 10, 2025.

Creating Added Value Through Authenticity

Dr. Wahyu added that the Authentic Halal Brand concept serves as added value that can enhance consumer trust and loyalty.

“The Authentic Halal Brand concept helps companies view halal more holistically, as a value that cultivates trust, loyalty, and sustainability,” he explained.

This approach enables businesses to differentiate themselves in competitive markets while maintaining integrity and building long-term relationships with consumers who seek brands that align with their values.

ParagonCorp’s Comprehensive Approach

ParagonCorp’s dedication to halal principles was also featured prominently in the latest edition of Halal Review magazine, launched exclusively at the Top Halal Awards 2025. In this edition, Wardah appears as the cover brand with an article titled “Building Authentic Halal Brand,” which discusses Wardah’s journey from a halal cosmetics brand to becoming a symbol of success in Indonesia’s beauty industry.

Dr. Sari Chairunnisa, Sp.KK, FINSDV, Deputy CEO of ParagonCorp, emphasized the company’s holistic understanding of halal.

“For us, the meaning of halal doesn’t stop at a certificate. Halal means toyyib—bringing goodness, health, and sustainability. At Paragon, we view halal as a lifestyle that fosters goodness for people and the environment,” she revealed.

Strategic Differentiation in Business

Through this initiative, IHATEC hopes more industry players will understand that halal is not merely a compliance standard but a differentiation strategy and source of competitive advantage rooted in integrity.

The concept positions halal as a comprehensive framework that influences:

• Product development: Ensuring ingredients and processes meet both religious and ethical standards
• Corporate culture: Embedding values of honesty and responsibility throughout the organization
• Stakeholder relationships: Building trust with consumers, suppliers, and communities
• Environmental stewardship: Considering sustainability and long-term impact
• Social responsibility: Contributing positively to society beyond profit motives

Growing Indonesia’s Halal Ecosystem

With collaboration between halal education institutions like IHATEC and industry players like ParagonCorp, Indonesia’s halal ecosystem is expected to grow increasingly strong, authentic, and globally competitive.

This partnership model demonstrates how educational bodies and businesses can work together to elevate standards, share best practices, and develop talent equipped to lead the halal industry forward.

As consumer awareness continues to rise, companies that embrace authentic halal principles—rather than treating certification as a mere checkbox—are positioned to build stronger brands, deeper customer relationships, and more sustainable businesses in the global marketplace.

Original Article:

Detik.com. (2025, October 13). IHATEC Soroti Wardah dan Kahf sebagai Pionir Halal yang Autentik. Retrieved from https://news.detik.com/berita/d-8155316/ihatec-soroti-wardah-dan-kahf-sebagai-pionir-halal-yang-autentik/amp